THE LEAGUE CUP FINAL !!! SUNDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2001 !! It had arrived and Blues supporters hit the motorways to take the trip to Cardiff !!
A coach journey for the Fletcher family and soon everyone was there for about 11am !! A kick around outside some local Cardiff boozer took place between about a thousand bluenoses and a bouncer who looked like Peter Ndlovu took soon stick, eventually the pub opened, a race to the bar took place and the beer started flowing !! Fletch sank about 5 pints before kick off to get him in the mood !! The Family had a few drinks, Dave and Marc left soon later caught up by the piss heads Chris & Lorraine.
They arrived at the game and had excellent seats in the top tier off the stadium by the corner flag !! The game began and both teams began to feel themselves out, Blues started well but then around the half hour mark Liverpool struck. Robbie Fowler caught Ian Bennett off his line and lobbed the ball from about 30 yards out to put the favourites sin front !! Birmingham where now up against it but held out to go in just a goal behind at the break !! Half time was here and a small punch up took place by blues supporters in the bar for half time entertainment, Chris purchased a hotdog and got two so that was a succesfull transaction.
The second half began and there where few chances in the second half, the clocked ticked down and it appeared Liverpool where heading for victory but in injury a lifeline. Martin O'Connor got gorward to the area and was brough down by Stephen Henchoz, PENALTY TO BIRMINGHAM !! The penalty seemed to take ages to be taken as O'Connor received treatment, Centre back Darren Purse, the club penalty taker stepped up and hit it low in the bottom corner !! GOAL !!!!!!!!!! The blues fans went wild with joy along with the players, Liverpool couldn't believe it, the game was heading to extra time !!
Extra time arrived, Birmingham where practically down to 10 men as Martyn O'Connor could not run due to the injury suffered in the penalty incident but Blues got on top and took the game to Liverpool. Bryan Hughes come close with a classic chip that the goalkeeper managed to push around the post and then referee David Ellerary bottled awarding Birmingham a second penalty when Andrew Johnson was blatenly tripped !! The 2nd period off extra time started and Liverpool come close when Dieter Hamman hit a post from the edge of the area !! Full time again come and there was now to be a penalty shoot out !! Martin Grainger missed Birminghams first kick but Hamman later missed a Liverpool pen and it was four all after five kicks each !! Jamie Carragher then scored Liverpools next kick, Andrew Johnson was next for Birmingham and his kick was saved, Liverpool had won the League Cup !! A brave brave effort from Birmingham who where a Division lower. Sad scenes at the end as Trevor Francis crys on Andrew Johnson's shoulders !! Robbie Fowler and Sami Hypia applaud the Birmingham supporters !!
Everyone heads home and its the journey from hell !! 7 hours to get back as Cardiff is a new venue for cup finals no one knows the way out !! Chris falls aleep for a bit, wakes up at 10:30pm and there still in cardiff !! We eventually got back about 1am !! Chris goes and picks up girlfriend Emmaline and they head back to his for a bit off cheer up love making !!